Bruce Lee staged all of the action sequences, and his emotional connection to them is unparalleled in his career. If the material sounds familiar or even arch, Lee and Clouse elevate it to the level of mastery. Oh, and wouldn’t you know it, Lee is going to have to face off against the massive baddie who killed his sister. Our hero must not only investigate the man’s crimes, but win a massive martial arts contest being held on his palatial island estate. The villain, Shih Kien, is as dastardly an evildoer as you could imagine, trafficking in opium and slaves. Some critics go as far as to say that this, Lee’s last film, was the only one ever to “give him the star treatment he deserved” before his untimely death.Įnter the Dragon is clear in its morality and earnest almost to the point of camp, but that makes the film that much more charming. Enter the Dragon is the best showcase of Lee’s once in a lifetime talent. The fighting is constant, straightforward, and cinematic, adding a fierce drive to the proceedings.Įditor’s Note: Bruce Lee is the titan of the kung fu genre, beloved the world over for his unparalleled martial arts skill. There is a pulpy grindhouse technical style that contrasts a rather melodramatic, classic storytelling with a large ensemble cast. In terms of execution, however, King Boxer set the standard for the kung fu genre films that would follow. The plot of King Boxer is pretty familiar: a student (Chao Chih-Hao) is sent by his aged master to learn greater skills in order to defeat the bad guys and earn his daughter’s hand in marriage. 1967’s One-Armed Swordsman marked their transition to more visceral martial arts movies, but King Boxer elevated the form to a place that would later influence decades of Chinese kung fu filmmaking. It is equally important to note that this martial arts film represented the perfection of the Shaw Brothers’ - big time Chinese kung fu producers - formula of violent, action-packed filmmaking.
#TYPE FU FOR BEGNNERS MOVIE#
It wouldn’t be inaccurate to call these films violent, but when kung fu movies are at their best, the violence transcends to a level of physical beauty that is unlike anything else ever captured on the big screen.Įditor’s Note: It is impossible to understate the historical significance of King Boxer, the first Chinese kung fu movie to receive wide distribution in the United States. Perhaps most importantly, these films offer some of the most intricate and impressive fight sequences ever filmed.
But, a deep dive into Hong Kong martial arts films will also yield a deeper appreciation of Chinese culture, Asian history, and the evolution of action film. Of course, if you want to learn more about the great stars of Chinese kung fu, Lee, Jackie Chan, and Jet Li, these films will give you that exposure.
The late Bruce Lee in particular captured America’s imagination, as his intense, powerful skill captivated audiences following his untimely death at the age of 32. Though kung fu movies feel so familiar to modern audiences, it wasn’t until the 1970s that kung fu movies really made their way to the United States and Americans fell in love with Chinese martial arts films.
Modern action films like The Matrix and Kill Bill rely on many of the same styles and principles of martial arts that many Americans first saw in the films of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan. Kung fu has become essential to American cinema.